ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: A reduction in intra-ovarian vascular resistance is necessary to achieve pregnancy in a natural cycle. The aim of this RCT was to detect whether a vasodilator calcium channel blocker, amlodipine, could increase the pre-ovulatory follicular blood flow, enhance follicular maturation in women with PCOS and improve ovulatory outcome. METHODS: Sixty women received induction by clomiphene citrate (CC); thirty were given amlodipine (Amlodipine group) and the other 30 women were given placebo (Placebo group). The pattern of pre-ovulatory follicle blood flow was studied by color and power Doppler ultrasonography pre and post drug administration. Independent t-test was used to compare mean values of the 2 groups. The p<0.05 is considered statistically significant. RESULTS: When comparing the Doppler effect of amlodipine versus placebo in the treatment cycle, it was found that mean value of ovarian arteries (OA) pulsatility index was lower in amlodipine group but it didn't reach statistical significance (p= 0.063); however, the mean value of OA resistance index reached statistical significance (p=0.028) in amlodipine group. Moreover, in the second cycle, endometrial thickness was significantly higher (p=0.006) in women of the amlodipine group when compared to those of the placebo group. At least one sonographically detectable mature follicle (≥18 mm) was observed in 54.5% (36/66) during the first cycle. At the second cycle, this proportion significantly rose to 86.7% (26/30) in the amlodipine group, but marginally and non-significantly to 56.7% (17/30) in the placebo group. CONCLUSION: Amlodipine as calcium channel blocker was proved to have a role in improving ovarian blood flow at the time of ovulation and enhancing follicular maturation and thus, it may increase the chances of conception.
ABSTRACT
AIM: To construct new fetal biometric charts and equations for some fetal biometric parameters for women between 12th and 41st weeks living in Ismailia and Port Said Governorates in Egypt. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 656 Egyptian women (from Ismailia and Port Said governorates) with an uncomplicated pregnancy, and all were sure of their dates. The selected group was between the 12th and 41st weeks of gestation, recruited from the district general hospital in Ismailia and Port Said to measure ultrasonographically biparietal diameter (BPD), head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC) and femur length (FL), then for each measurement separate regression models were fitted to estimate both the mean and the Standard deviation at each gestational age. RESULTS: New Egyptian charts were reported for BPD, HC, AC, and FL. Reference equations for the dating of pregnancy were presented. The mean of the previous measurements at 12th and 41st weeks were as follows: (23.37, 98.72), (83.05, 336.12), (67.85, 332.57) and (12.50, 74.92) respectively. CONCLUSION: New fetal biometric charts and regression equations for pregnant women living in Port Said & Ismailia governorates in Egypt.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To compare the ICSI-ET outcomes in patients with endometriosis with or without laser-assisted zona pellucida thinning. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: The study was conducted in the Obstetrics & Gynecology Department, Cairo University hospital, and two private IVF centers in Cairo & Beni-Suif from July 2015 to January 2017 upon infertile and known endometriosis patients who planned to do ICSI-ET. INTERVENTIONS: Before randomization, all patients received the same ovarian stimulation preparation, oocyte retrieval procedures, and the same intracytoplasmic sperm injection procedures. After randomization, laser-assisted hatching was performed only for embryos of 158 patients, while the other group (n = 150) no laser-assisted hatching was made. The verification of pregnancy was achieved by the serum hCG concentration 14 days after the embryo transfer, and the clinical pregnancy was confirmed 2 weeks later by the presence of gestational sac with pulsating fetal pole on vaginal ultrasonography. MEASUREMENTS: The main outcome measures were the clinical pregnancy rate and the clinical implantation rate. MAIN RESULTS: Both groups were comparable with regard their baseline characteristics, baseline hormonal profile, the ovarian stimulation characteristics, and the ovulation characteristics. The mean number of embryos developed per patient and the mean transferred number of embryos per patient were comparable between groups (p value > 0.05). The implantation rate was significantly higher (p value 0.002) in the study group than the control group with an odds ratio of 1.86 (CI 95% 1.24-2.80) and NNT 13.81 (CI 95% 8.35-39.94). The clinical pregnancy rate, was significantly (p value 0.022) higher in the study group than in the control group with an odds ratio of 1.79 (CI 95% 1.05-3.06) and NNT 9.57 (CI 95% 5.03-98.99). CONCLUSION: That laser-assisted hatching by thinning of the zona pellucida may be a suitable method to improve the ICSI-ET outcomes, in term of the implantation and the pregnancy rates, in cases of endometriosis. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Pan African Clinical Trials Registry (PACTR), http://www.pactr.org/ATMWeb/appmanager/atm/atmregistry?dar=true&tNo=PACTR201502001022393 , PACTR201602001467322.
